Portuguese reference

The 250 most common Portuguese words

Ranked by how often they actually appear. Together these 250 words account for about 65% of everything said and written in Portuguese — which is why the order you learn vocabulary in matters more than the number of words you know.

250words
65%of everyday speech
4.8%the single commonest word
#WordEnglishSay itShareRunning total
1deof, fromjee4.790%4.8%
2athe (f.)ah3.848%8.6%
3othe (m.)oo3.812%12.4%
4serto besehr1.115%13.6%
5eandee2.690%16.3%
6doof the (m.)doo2.058%18.3%
7daof the (f.)dah1.607%19.9%
8emin, oneyng1.380%21.3%
9parafor, toPAH-rah1.170%22.5%
10uma, one (m.)oong1.169%23.6%
11nãono, notnowng1.150%24.8%
12quethat, whatkee2.750%27.5%
13irto goeer1.032%28.6%
14umaa, one (f.)OO-mah1.011%29.6%
15comwithkong0.977%30.6%
16noin the (m.)noo0.977%31.5%
17nain the (f.)nah0.911%32.4%
18seifsee0.871%33.3%
19terto havetehr0.781%34.1%
20porby, forpoor0.759%34.9%
21euIeh-oo0.676%35.5%
22estarto be (state)es-TAHR0.640%36.2%
23comohow, asKOH-moo0.603%36.8%
24maismoremice0.525%37.3%
25aoto the (m.)ow0.448%37.8%
26seuyour, his (m.)seh-oo0.422%38.2%
27masbutmahs0.398%38.6%
28suayour, her (f.)SOO-ah0.387%39.0%
29podercan, to be ablepoh-DEHR0.381%39.3%
30fazerto do, to makefah-ZEHR0.374%39.7%
31vocêyouvoh-SEH0.361%40.1%
32mememee0.355%40.4%
33muitovery, muchMOO-ee-too0.325%40.8%
34todoall, everyTOH-doo0.323%41.1%
35ouoroh0.257%41.3%
36eleheEH-lee0.245%41.6%
37anoyearAH-noo0.237%41.8%
38outroother, anotherOH-troo0.233%42.0%
39diadayDEE-ah0.233%42.3%
40peloby the (m.)PEH-loo0.233%42.5%
41saberto knowsah-BEHR0.231%42.7%
42meumy (m.)meh-oo0.229%43.0%
43dizerto sayjee-ZEHR0.219%43.2%
44issothat, itEE-soo0.219%43.4%
45jáalreadyzhah0.209%43.6%
46nosusnoos0.209%43.8%
47tambémalso, tootahm-BENG0.204%44.0%
48mesmosame, evenMEZH-moo0.202%44.2%
49seoneself (reflexive pronoun)see0.871%45.1%
50ato, at (direction)ah3.848%49.0%
51pelaby the (f.)PEH-lah0.194%49.1%
52pessoapersonpeh-SOH-ah0.194%49.3%
53sóonly, justsaw0.190%49.5%
54verto seevehr0.188%49.7%
55elasheEH-lah0.182%49.9%
56darto givedahr0.182%50.1%
57ficarto stay, to becomefee-KAHR0.174%50.3%
58minhamy (f.)MEEN-yah0.171%50.4%
59sobreabout, onSOH-bree0.170%50.6%
60haverto have, there to beah-VEHR0.170%50.8%
61bemwellbeng0.170%50.9%
62essethis, that (m.)EH-see0.165%51.1%
63atéuntil, evenah-TEH0.162%51.3%
64teyou (obj.)tee0.155%51.4%
65tudoeverythingTOO-doo0.155%51.6%
66bomgoodbong0.154%51.7%
67aindastill, yetah-EEN-dah0.151%51.9%
68aquihereah-KEE0.151%52.0%
69estethis (m.)ES-chee0.151%52.2%
70algumsomeahl-GOONG0.148%52.3%
71partirto leave, to departpahr-CHEER0.142%52.5%
72falarto speak, to talkfah-LAHR0.137%52.6%
73quemwhokeng0.135%52.7%
74semwithoutseng0.135%52.9%
75novonewNOH-voo0.134%53.0%
76virto comeveer0.133%53.1%
77doistwodoyss0.132%53.3%
78agoranowah-GOH-rah0.132%53.4%
79entrebetweenEN-tree0.129%53.5%
80primeirofirstpree-MAY-roo0.128%53.7%
81passarto pass, to go bypah-SAHR0.118%53.8%
82tempotimeTEM-poo0.116%53.9%
83acharto think, to findah-SHAHR0.115%54.0%
84assimlike this, soah-SEENG0.115%54.1%
85depoisafter, laterdeh-POYSS0.115%54.3%
86devermust, to owedeh-VEHR0.114%54.4%
87grandebig, largeGRAN-jee0.114%54.5%
88ondewhereONG-jee0.112%54.6%
89mundoworldMOON-doo0.111%54.7%
90brasilBrazilbrah-ZEEL0.110%54.8%
91casarto marrykah-ZAHR0.108%54.9%
92vidalifeVEE-dah0.105%55.0%
93deixarto leave, to letday-SHAHR0.103%55.1%
94essathis, that (f.)EH-sah0.102%55.2%
95elestheyEH-leess0.100%55.3%
96porquebecausepoor-KEH0.100%55.4%
97nadarto swimnah-DAHR0.098%55.5%
98thethe (English loan)thuh0.098%55.6%
99quandowhenKWAN-doo0.200%55.8%
100quererto wantkeh-REHR0.195%56.0%
101segundosecond (ordinal)seh-GOON-doo0.092%56.1%
102semprealwaysSEM-pree0.091%56.2%
103nossaour (f.)NOH-sah0.091%56.3%
104estathis (f.)ES-tah0.087%56.4%
105veztime, turnvayss0.087%56.5%
106cidadecitysee-DAH-jee0.087%56.6%
107apenasonly, justah-PEH-nahs0.085%56.6%
108coisarthing (verb form)koy-ZAHR0.085%56.7%
109nuncaneverNOON-kah0.083%56.8%
110chegarto arrivesheh-GAHR0.082%56.9%
111começarto begin, to startkoh-meh-SAHR0.080%57.0%
112mimme (after prep.)meeng0.079%57.1%
113nossoour (m.)NOH-soo0.078%57.1%
114usarto useoo-ZAHR0.078%57.2%
115maiorbigger, biggestmah-YOHR0.078%57.3%
116trabalhowork, jobtrah-BAH-lyoo0.077%57.4%
117hojetodayOH-zhee0.076%57.4%
118tãosotowng0.076%57.5%
119formarto form, to trainfor-MAHR0.075%57.6%
120entãothen, soen-TOWNG0.074%57.7%
121nemneither, nor, not evenneng0.074%57.7%
122mulherwomanmoo-LYEHR0.074%57.8%
123brasileiroBrazilianbrah-zee-LAY-roo0.073%57.9%
124deusGodDEH-oos0.073%58.0%
125poucolittle, fewPOH-koo0.073%58.0%
126contarto tell, to countkon-TAHR0.072%58.1%
127àsat the (f. pl.)ahss0.071%58.2%
128querwantskehr0.069%58.2%
129nomenameNOH-mee0.068%58.3%
130acontecerto happenah-kon-teh-SEHR0.068%58.4%
131ajudarto helpah-zhoo-DAHR0.067%58.4%
132fotophotoFOH-too0.067%58.5%
133sentirto feelsen-CHEER0.066%58.6%
134conseguirto manage, to be ablekon-seh-GEER0.066%58.6%
135pensarto thinkpen-SAHR0.066%58.7%
136nóswenawss0.066%58.8%
137casocaseKAH-zoo0.066%58.8%
138grupogroupGROO-poo0.065%58.9%
139duranteduringdoo-RAN-chee0.065%59.0%
140prafor, to (colloq.)prah0.065%59.0%
141levarto take, to carryleh-VAHR0.064%59.1%
142qualqueranykwow-KEHR0.064%59.2%
143paíscountrypah-EES0.064%59.2%
144precisarto needpreh-see-ZAHR0.062%59.3%
145pedirto ask for, to orderpeh-JEER0.062%59.4%
146encontrarto find, to meeten-kon-TRAHR0.062%59.4%
147melhorbetter, bestmeh-LYOHR0.096%59.5%
148segundoaccording toseh-GOON-doo0.092%59.6%
149simyesseeng0.062%59.7%
150qualwhich, whatkwow0.094%59.8%
151menoslessMEH-noos0.060%59.8%
152esperarto wait, to hopees-peh-RAHR0.060%59.9%
153homemmanOH-meng0.060%59.9%
154históriastory, historyees-TOH-ree-ah0.060%60.0%
155meiomiddle, halfMAY-oo0.060%60.1%
156coisathingKOY-zah0.059%60.1%
157rirto laughheer0.059%60.2%
158acabarto finish, to endah-kah-BAHR0.059%60.2%
159alguémsomeoneahl-GENG0.059%60.3%
160antesbeforeAN-cheess0.059%60.4%
161parecerto seem, to appearpah-reh-SEHR0.059%60.4%
162direitoright, lawjee-RAY-too0.059%60.5%
163chamarto callshah-MAHR0.058%60.5%
164sairto leave, to go outsah-EER0.058%60.6%
165mãemothermainy0.058%60.6%
166desdesince, fromDEZH-jee0.058%60.7%
167tipotype, kindCHEE-poo0.057%60.8%
168filhosonFEE-lyoo0.057%60.8%
169contraagainstKON-trah0.056%60.9%
170públicopublicPOO-blee-koo0.061%60.9%
171últimolastOOL-chee-moo0.056%61.0%
172problemaproblemproh-BLEH-mah0.056%61.0%
173caroexpensive, dearKAH-roo0.056%61.1%
174amigofriendah-MEE-goo0.056%61.2%
175cadaeachKAH-dah0.062%61.2%
176noitenightNOY-chee0.056%61.3%
177tantoso muchTAN-too0.055%61.3%
178jogogameZHOH-goo0.055%61.4%
179trêsthreetrayss0.055%61.4%
180comigowith mekoh-MEE-goo0.055%61.5%
181ofof (English loan)of0.054%61.5%
182gostarto likegos-TAHR0.054%61.6%
183momentomomentmoh-MEN-too0.053%61.7%
184lugarplaceloo-GAHR0.053%61.7%
185alémbeyond, besidesah-LENG0.052%61.8%
186vezarto take turnsveh-ZAHR0.051%61.8%
187semanaweekseh-MAH-nah0.051%61.9%
188ladosideLAH-doo0.051%61.9%
189nacionalnationalnah-see-oh-NOW0.050%62.0%
190apósafterah-POYSS0.049%62.0%
191famíliafamilyfah-MEE-lee-ah0.049%62.1%
192olharto lookoh-LYAHR0.048%62.1%
193conhecerto know, to meetkon-yeh-SEHR0.048%62.2%
194voltarto return, to go backvol-TAHR0.048%62.2%
195pauloPaulo (name)POW-loo0.048%62.3%
196aquelethat (far)ah-KEH-lee0.048%62.3%
197feitodone, madeFAY-too0.047%62.3%
198mêsmonthmayss0.046%62.4%
199existirto existeg-zees-TEER0.046%62.4%
200látherelah0.062%62.5%
201verdadetruthvehr-DAH-jee0.046%62.5%
202socialsocialsoh-see-OW0.046%62.6%
203enquantowhileen-KWAN-too0.046%62.6%
204ninguémnobodyneen-GENG0.046%62.7%
205presidentepresidentpreh-zee-DEN-chee0.046%62.7%
206áreaareaAH-ree-ah0.045%62.8%
207pontopoint, spotPON-too0.045%62.8%
208vídeovideoVEE-jee-oo0.044%62.9%
209localplace, localloh-COW0.044%62.9%
210ouvirto hear, to listenoh-VEER0.044%63.0%
211fimendfeeng0.044%63.0%
212tentarto tryten-TAHR0.044%63.0%
213aíthereah-EE0.044%63.1%
214quantumquantumKWAN-toong0.044%63.1%
215acreditarto believeah-kreh-jee-TAHR0.044%63.2%
216próprioownPROH-pree-oo0.044%63.2%
217políticopolitical, politicianpoh-LEE-chee-koo0.044%63.3%
218mostrarto showmos-TRAHR0.043%63.3%
219finalend, finalfee-NOW0.043%63.3%
220entrarto enter, to go inen-TRAHR0.043%63.4%
221continuarto continuekon-chee-noo-AHR0.043%63.4%
222projetoprojectproh-ZHEH-too0.043%63.5%
223voltareturnVOL-tah0.043%63.5%
224viverto livevee-VEHR0.043%63.6%
225trabalharto worktrah-bah-LYAHR0.043%63.6%
226criançachildkree-AN-sah0.043%63.6%
227númeronumberNOO-meh-roo0.042%63.7%
228escolaschooles-KOH-lah0.042%63.7%
229criarto create, to raisekree-AHR0.042%63.8%
230perderto losepehr-DEHR0.042%63.8%
231receberto receiveheh-seh-BEHR0.041%63.9%
232sistemasystemsees-TEH-mah0.041%63.9%
233tornarto make, to becometor-NAHR0.041%63.9%
234nenhumno, nonenen-YOONG0.041%64.0%
235seguirto followseh-GEER0.041%64.0%
236algosomethingOW-goo0.041%64.1%
237gentepeople, weZHEN-chee0.041%64.1%
238importanteimportanteem-por-TAN-chee0.041%64.1%
239governogovernmentgoh-VEHR-noo0.041%64.2%
240acordoagreement, dealah-KOR-doo0.040%64.2%
241informaçãoinformationeen-for-mah-SOWNG0.040%64.3%
242lembrarto rememberlem-BRAHR0.040%64.3%
243músicomusic, musicianMOO-zee-koo0.040%64.3%
244seriarto serialize, seriesseh-ree-AHR0.040%64.4%
245únicoonly, uniqueOO-nee-koo0.040%64.4%
246diferentedifferentjee-feh-REN-chee0.040%64.5%
247filmefilm, movieFEEL-mee0.040%64.5%
248entenderto understanden-ten-DEHR0.039%64.5%
249colocarto put, to placekoh-loh-KAHR0.039%64.6%
250horarto schedule (hour)oh-RAHR0.039%64.6%

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